WASHINGTON — The DMV’s first tastes of snow this season could be Thursday. Even though this week will likely be mild, with severe weather events becoming more and more frequent, storm preparedness is becoming more and more important.
Mark Friedlander, national spokesman for the Insurance Information Institute, spoke to WUSA9 about some tips and tricks on preparing for severe weather events.
First things first, when you know a storm is coming, check your insurance policy. Every insurance policy should have a declarations page at the beginning. This will show a summary of coverage limits, deductibles and claim filing procedures. Friedlander said it’s smart to get familiar with how to file a claim in the event you need to.
Standard home, condo and renter’s policies typically cover wind damage, but not flood damage, according to Friedlander.
“That's why it's so important for you to have a separate flood insurance policy, because many storms create severe flooding events,” Friedlander said. “The problem is, though, you can't wait until the last minute with flood insurance, because if you don't have it and you need to purchase it, there's typically a 30-day waiting period.”
The federally backed National Flood Insurance Program has a standard 30-day waiting period, he said. But even private insurers often have waiting periods, ranging from typically 14 to 21 days — so if you don’t currently have a policy, Friedlander recommends getting one as soon as possible, instead of waiting until a storm is on the way.
Another thing to keep an eye on is your level of dwelling coverage. Friedlander said it can be found right at the top of your declarations page on the first page of your policy. It will tell you your home’s replacement cost coverage, which is the total value you have to replace your home.
This is different, he said, than your home’s real estate market value. And the replacement cost value of your home may be more now than it was when you bought your insurance policy.
“We've seen replacement costs spike in the past several years due to supply chain disruption, higher cost of construction materials, labor shortages,” Friedlander said. “So if you haven't updated your policy in a few years, you could have a significant insurance gap and have a shortage, especially if you suffer a major loss from a storm.”
You should also check your vehicle protection. Comprehensive auto coverage protects from non-collision hazards, including from natural disasters, like falling trees, hail and flooding, and also from theft, vandalism and more. It’s recommended but is typically optional, unless you have a leased vehicle or outstanding loans, he said.
Friedlander recommends doing a quick “checkup” with your insurance agent to make any necessary adjustments to fill any gaps in your coverage and to add comprehensive auto coverage if you don’t already have it.
“We've seen several-hundred-thousand vehicles totaled from the hurricanes this year from Florida, up the east coast. … because typically once the flood water gets in your engine, it cannot be repaired,” Friedlander said. “If your vehicle is totaled by your insurer, and if you don't have comprehensive, that's a loss you're paying out of pocket.”
When a storm is already on its way, there are some things you can do to be proactive and prevent damage to your home. Any loose items outside your home, such as patio chairs or other things that could potentially fly in a severe windstorm, should be put away in a garage or inside the home.
“Those could be projectiles and smash right into your home and cause extensive damage. You want to limit the damage,” Friedlander said. “You won't be penalized if you don't do this, but you don't want to go through the hassle of having a major loss. When you could have perhaps a minor loss or no loss at all from a windstorm, you wanna take proactive steps.”
All of that is to prevent having to make a major claim. But if something big does happen — say, a tree falls on your home — contact your insurer right away.
This has become much easier, Friedlander said, because most insurers now have mobile apps where you can start the process right from your smartphone. Once you get the claim filed, a claim adjuster will walk you through the next steps.
To make the process simpler, he recommends keeping a digital inventory of all of the possessions in your home. You can do that by taking photos of everything, keeping receipts, writing down all serial numbers of electronics, and more. This way, you can prove the condition of your items before the storm.